Jonathan Eze
Founder and Chairperson of Women in Management (WIM), Dr. Sulochana Segera, and Chairperson of Women in Management Africa (WIMAFRICA), Dr. Ngozi Oyewole, have known as for higher financial alternatives, international recognition and elevated participation of Nigerian and African ladies in commerce, funding, entrepreneurship and management.
The duo made the decision at a press convention in Lagos on Monday forward of the maiden African version of the WIM Global Economic Forum, themed “The Power Shift: Women Driving Africa’s Global Economic Influence,” scheduled for November 10–11, 2026, on the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
They mentioned the gathering would transfer past celebrating ladies’s achievements to creating sensible alternatives for them to affect financial selections, entry capital, broaden companies, take part in worldwide commerce and set up strategic partnerships throughout continents.
Oyewole, who can also be the founding father of Commonwealth Business Women Africa, mentioned the facility shift being advocated by WIMAFRICA was about guaranteeing that girls moved from being individuals in financial actions to turning into influential decision-makers, enterprise house owners, producers and buyers.
She famous that African ladies had been already sustaining native markets, constructing enterprises and contributing considerably to nationwide economies, however wanted higher entry to finance, markets, infrastructure and management alternatives to maximise their potential.
“For me, the power shift is about who gets to make economic decisions. African women already build businesses, create jobs and sustain local markets. The next step is for more women to own the companies that grow, decide where capital goes and help set the terms on which Africa trades,” she mentioned.
She defined that the convention would amplify the contributions of African ladies, notably in manufacturing, agriculture, know-how, commerce and different productive sectors, whereas exploring how they may benefit from alternatives below the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Oyewole pressured the significance of backward integration and native manufacturing, noting that girls entrepreneurs might play a big function in strengthening African provide chains by reworking domestically obtainable uncooked supplies into completed merchandise.
She recognized entry to finance as one of many largest constraints going through women-owned companies, arguing that many entrepreneurs have the capability and market alternatives to broaden however lack the working capital required to execute contracts and maintain manufacturing.
Drawing from her expertise as a producer and founding father of NOXIE Limited, an workplace furnishings manufacturing firm established almost three many years in the past, she defined that companies typically wrestle to finance supplies, wages and manufacturing prices whereas ready for patrons to pay for accomplished contracts.
She subsequently known as on monetary establishments to develop financing merchandise that mirror the operational realities of women-owned enterprises, notably producers and small companies.
Oyewole additionally urged authorities businesses and company organisations to make procurement alternatives extra accessible to certified women-owned companies, guarantee clear bidding processes and promote well timed cost for accomplished contracts.
On AfCFTA, she mentioned many ladies entrepreneurs remained inadequately knowledgeable about guidelines of origin, documentation and the procedures required to entry cross-border markets, regardless of the large alternatives supplied by the continental commerce settlement.
She additional recognized poor roads and unreliable electrical energy as main challenges affecting ladies in rural agriculture and meals manufacturing, noting that insufficient infrastructure contributes to post-harvest losses and will increase the price of transporting items to city markets.
She known as for stronger safety of girls’s property rights, notably land possession, arguing that eradicating cultural and institutional boundaries would allow extra ladies to spend money on agriculture, manufacturing and different productive ventures.
On her half, Segera mentioned the choice to deliver WIM’s international platform to Africa was pushed by the necessity to recognise the contributions of African ladies and join them to worldwide enterprise and funding alternatives.
She defined that WIM was established 16 years in the past in Sri Lanka to determine, rejoice and promote ladies whose work contributes considerably to financial growth {and professional} development.
She disclosed that the organisation now has members and award recipients in 29 international locations, offering a global community by way of which completed ladies can collaborate, alternate experience and set up enterprise relationships throughout borders.
Recounting her relationship with Oyewole, Segera mentioned they first met in India, the place the Nigerian entrepreneur was representing Africa at a global convention. She mentioned their subsequent engagements in Dubai, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Sri Lanka strengthened their relationship and uncovered them to the achievements and challenges of girls throughout completely different economies.
According to her, Oyewole’s dedication to bringing the WIM Top 50 recognition platform to Africa offered a possibility to showcase the continent’s ladies and exhibit their capability to contribute to the worldwide economic system.
Segera pressured that the popularity initiative would transcend celebrating skilled titles and positions to highlighting the abilities, resilience, improvements and achievements of African ladies.
She described Africa as an more and more essential market within the international economic system, including that girls remained central to unlocking the continent’s financial potential.
She emphasised that the gathering was not meant to be merely one other convention and awards ceremony however a platform for enterprise partnerships, funding, commerce and long-term financial cooperation.
Segera additionally known as for reforms in monetary establishments, arguing that girls entrepreneurs needs to be assessed on their enterprise potential and capability fairly than conventional assumptions about their financial roles.
She additional emphasised the necessity for shared household tasks, noting that girls typically mix skilled commitments with home tasks, thereby limiting the time and alternatives obtainable for enterprise enlargement and profession development.
“You cannot keep half of your population inactive in the economy and expect the economy to grow,” she mentioned.
Also talking on the press convention, Seun Oyewole, Managing Director of NOXIE Limited and Founder of Legend of Legend Productions Ltd, described Nigeria’s internet hosting of the maiden African version of the worldwide gathering as an essential alternative to showcase the nation’s achievements and Africa’s rising financial potential.
Seun, who can also be a member of WIMAFRICA and oversees occasion planning for the organisation, notably the Global Economic Forum 2026 and the sixteenth Professional & Career Awards Gala 2026, mentioned the gathering would deliver collectively ladies and men from completely different international locations {and professional} backgrounds to rejoice ladies’s achievements and discover alternatives for collaboration.
He expressed delight that the primary African version was happening in Nigeria, noting that Lagos, because the nation’s business capital, supplied an applicable platform to showcase the entrepreneurial expertise, business actions and enterprise alternatives obtainable throughout the continent.
He mentioned the preparations had offered a possibility to deliver collectively stakeholders dedicated not solely to highlighting the challenges going through ladies but in addition to showcasing their achievements throughout completely different sectors.
Providing additional particulars of the programme, Dr. Ngozi Oyewole mentioned the November 10 periods would function discussions on Africa Trade 2035, AfCFTA, resilient provide chains and the continent’s function within the subsequent decade of worldwide progress.
Other periods would look at monetary inclusion, financial energy, possession, capital mobilisation and wealth creation within the synthetic intelligence economic system.
The programme would additionally function discussions on ladies’s management, synthetic intelligence, cybersecurity, the way forward for finance, sustainability, inexperienced capital and local weather resilience.
Participants are anticipated to look at how digital transformation can strengthen Africa’s banking sector, enhance international competitiveness and create new alternatives for women-owned companies.
The convention can even function periods on international human capital, the way forward for enterprise, expertise growth, management and productiveness within the rising economic system.
A worldwide discussion board recognition ceremony, govt networking and enterprise matchmaking periods are additionally scheduled as a part of the programme.
The occasion will culminate in a gala evening on November 11, throughout which excellent ladies who’ve distinguished themselves in enterprise, management, innovation {and professional} observe will obtain awards and recognition.
The organisers mentioned the last word measure of the gathering can be the partnerships and sensible alternatives created after individuals returned to their respective international locations, notably in increasing ladies’s entry to capital, contracts, worldwide markets and financial decision-making.
